-
Aboriginal Art Consignment
Sotheby’s, the leading international auction house in indigenous Australian art for more than two decades, holds the record for the highest price achieved for Aboriginal art at auction, as well as the highest overall sale total.
The department was established in 1996 in Australia, where sales were held regularly until 2009 when London became the auction hub. In December 2019, Sotheby’s auctions of Aboriginal Art relocated to our New York headquarters and featured works created by Aborigine artists from the world’s oldest continuous culture, including early museum-quality artifacts dating from the 18th century to post-colonial and political Contemporary Art. The December sale achieved over 2.7 million USD and marked the first Aboriginal Art auction that was held outside of Australia or Europe by an international auction house.
When you are ready to sell an Aboriginal painting, sculpture, artifact, shield or boomerang, Sotheby’s can help you realise the highest price. To start your free estimate, simply submit images and information of your art through our easy-to-use online form. Our team of specialists will review your submission and issue preliminary estimates for items that can be included in our sales.
Find Out the Value of Your Aboriginal Art
Submit photos and information about your Indigenous Australian Art and begin your complimentary estimate request.
Get an Estimate
Aboriginal Art Consigned with Sotheby's
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the best time to sell my Aboriginal Art?Sotheby's Aboriginal art auctions continually attract collectors, academics, museum curators and new buyers from New York and around the world. Consign now for our November 2019 sale. When you are ready to sell a fine painting or sculpture created by an Aboriginal artist, Sotheby’s can help you realise the highest price.
- Why is indigenous art from Australia highly collectible?Collectors desire Aboriginal art because it is the world’s longest art-making tradition, having gone on for the past 40,000 years. Sotheby’s November 2019 sale in New York will feature exceptional Australian indigenous art and artifacts dating from the 18th century to the present. Sotheby’s recent Aboriginal Art sales have established new world auction records for Aboriginal sculpture, artifacts, bark paintings and art by a living Aboriginal artist.
- Is Aboriginal art a good investment?Australian Aboriginal art has seen a remarkable increase in popularity over recent years and this is not limited to its native country. Internationally recognized as a unique form of art, it is welcomed overseas and respected and admired by art collectors and critics alike.
Recent Sotheby’s sales have included works from some of the world’s most renowned collections, including the Thomas Vroom Collection, the collection of the late Gabrielle Pizzi, and the collection of Fiona Brockhof, setting record prices. Now is the best time to consign your Aboriginal art with Sotheby’s.
Sotheby’s is your best resource to buy and sell Aboriginal art such as an indigenous painting, bark painting or sculpture by an Aborigine Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Paddy Bedford, Tjumpo Tjapanangka, Warlimpirringa Tjapaltjarri, Alec Mingelmanganu, Enraeld Djulabinyanna Munkara, Cardo Kerinauia Tiyantingalayang, Charlie Numbulmore, Dini Campbell Tjampitjinpa, Tommy Mitchell and other artists from Australia, or sell an Aboriginal artefact such as a broad shield, parrying shield, rainforest shield, Wunda shield, rainforest sword club, fighting club, throwing club, weapon, boomerang, fighting boomerang, guardian figure, coolomon, ear weight or other ancient object from Australia.